By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

January 29, 2010, 4:33PM

The NFL fined Saints defensive end Bobby McCray a total of $20,000 for two incidents involving unnecessary roughness against Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, according to an NFL.com report.

In the first quarter of the NFC championship game on Sunday, McCray delivered a blow to Favre after the quarterback had made a handoff to receiver Percy Harvin. Officials penalized the Saints 15 yards for the unnecessary roughness infraction. During the third quarter, McCray hit Favre in the knee area after he delivered a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Jon Vilma. The Saints were not penalized on the play.

From TP

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

January 29, 2010, 8:00AM

After doing their best to knock Kurt Warner and Brett Favre into early retirements in the past two weeks, the New Orleans Saints defense has earned a reputation as the big, bad bully heading into Super Bowl XLIV.

But they know it won’t be as easy to disrupt Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who makes quick decisions and quick throws and avoids pressure as well as he does everything else. “He’s the least frequently sacked quarterback in the league, and has been, and does a great job of that, ” Saints Coach Sean Payton said of the four-time NFL MVP, who was sacked only 10 times in the regular season and a combined four times in playoff victories over Baltimore and the New York Jets — two of the most menacing defenses in the NFL

Read the rest of the story here.

By Chris Kirkham, The Times-Picayune

January 28, 2010, 3:53PM

Win or lose, the city will honor the New Orleans Saints‘ Super Bowl run with a parade the Tuesday after the big game.

The Super Bowl is Feb. 7. The parade will be Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

The exact time and route have not been determined, but Mardi Gras organizer Barry Kern is working with Mayor Ray Nagin’s office to coordinate the event.

Read the rest of the story here.

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

January 28, 2010, 3:07PM

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said tight end Jeremy Shockey visited Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday for a consultation and a second opinion on Shockey’s MRI exams. But he said Shockey did not have any surgical procedures done on his knee

Read the rest of the story here.

By The Times-Picayune

January 27, 2010, 8:13AM

New Orleans Saints running backs have been very productive this season, and going into any particular game, you don’t know which one of them will have the best performance.

And, as you know if you’ve watched Super Bowls over the years, the game sometimes comes down to an unexpected player who has an unbelievable performance — remember Washington’s Timmy Smith against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988? You never know who steps up on the big stage and as you Saints fans can attest, you never know who will get the call as the Saints running back.

So, as the Saints get ready to face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami on Feb. 7, we want your feedback.

Which running back will have the best game?

Vote for the best running back on NOLA click here now.

By The Times-Picayune

January 27, 2010, 7:47AM

Sports Illustrated’s coverage of the NFC championship game is a feature story on the New Orleans Saints with quarterback Drew Brees on the cover.

The magazine goes on sale today.

By Doug Tatum, The Times-Picayune

January 26, 2010, 3:08PM

The Times-Picayune sports department is seeking those lucky New Orleans Saints season-ticket holders who were able to have their names called in today’s lottery for Super Bowl tickets.

In the first trip to the Super Bowl in franchice history,the Saints play the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida on Feb 7.

And The Times-Picayune wants you to share your lottery story with the rest of the area. If you are one of the lucky winners, please contact us at sports@timespicayune.com.

See story here.

By Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

January 26, 2010, 9:45AM

The New Orleans Saints soon will have to temper their emotions.

The raucous partying and backslapping following the Saints’ thrilling 31-28 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game Sunday at the Superdome was fun.

But by the time the Saints report for practice on Thursday, the historic game will be a distant memory. By then, their full attention will be on the Indianapolis Colts, the team New Orleans will meet in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb 7 in Miami.

Their mission, several Saints said, is not complete.

Read the rest of the story here.

Blood is thicker than water — even the muddy water of the Mississippi River.

Archie Manning played most of his 16-year NFL career for the New Orleans Saints and still lives in the Big Easy. But his son, Peyton Manning, plays for the Indianapolis Colts.

So despite his allegiance to New Orleans, there’s no question about which team the elder Manning will be pulling for in Super Bowl XLIV. He erased any doubt about that after the Colts beat the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game, according to The Indianapolis Star.

“It’s a game I’m going to pull for my son,” the elder Manning said, according to the report.

Read more of the story here.

By Jan Moller, The Times-Picayune
January 25, 2010, 5:15PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal today issued what might be the least controversial proclamation of his political career: making this the official “Who Dat Nation Week” in Louisiana.

The proclamation singled out the team’s fans, who “won the championship last night for the most loyal, compassionate, dedicated, passionate, outrageous and downright loud-as-heck fanbase in the league.”

Jindal attended his first Saints game of the season on Sunday as they hosted the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship. He had originally planned to stay in Baton Rouge and watch from the Governor’s Mansion, but changed his mind and decided instead to view the action from a luxury suite in the Superdome.

According to the resolution, “whether you attended every home game this year, some of the games or simply rooted for the Saints in your living room, the fans of the Saints deserve praise at the conclusion of their ‘Superdome Season.'”